Your Questions

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, just wondering if you have read any G.A. Henty books? Louis l'Amour did and he produced quite a body of work.

Do you happen to know what the longest range of the longbow. In China, Song dynasty, they had a crossbow which could send a five foot bolt 400 meters. One shot of which averted a battle. Keep pen to paper, regards Nicholas.

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

Henty was immensely famous in his day, but it's been years since I've read him. He writes for a younger audience and his characters tend to be good upright fellows. He was amazingly prolific, and is still collectible.

The usual extreme range is cited as about 250 paces, but I suspect the bow was very inaccurate much above 200. The Chinese bow sounds very like a springbolt which was medieval Europe's giant crossbow that was mounted on ramparts and was wound mechanically and, like the weapon you cite, had a range well in excess of 300 yards.

Q

Bernard, Thank you for some fantastic books,I think my favourite have to be the Saxon series.I was wondering, do you research the translations of the various languages that you use in the books yourself? Being a welsh speaker it amuses me to read my native tongue in your books. furthermore have you ever considered writing about the struggle of the Welsh Princes against the English in the middle ages?
Mark

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

I do research - do I get it right? Well, for the Arthur books I had the help of a Welsh-speaking friend and only hope she didn't deceive me. I was hugely amused when a reviewer (an Amazon.com staffer) berated me for using the word 'edling' which, she claimed, was an insult to the Welsh, but as I took it straight from the Welsh original of the Laws of Hywel Dda I decided I was right and she was burbling in ignorance. Against stupidity, as Schiller said, the Gods themselves struggle in vain.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I am curious...are you a "speed-reader"?
Karen

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

Not, probably, as most people mean it - it's a technique, isn't it? But I read fast - very fast.

Q

I know this will fall into the FAQ category, but a Christmas gift introduced me to your work via the Starbuck Chronicles which I enjoyed. Do you still plan to continue the story? I hate to think of young Nathaniel stuck in Sharpsburg for eternity with a head wound and no word on Sally, Julia, Pecker Bird, General Faulconer, Billy Blythe and Belvedere Delaney. Scott Burner

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

I do hope to get back to Starbuck.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell! I have finally just finished Sword Song the last of your Saxon Tales. First I just want to say that your books are incredible. I have always loved history, especially ancient history and European history. I have read the Saxon Stories and Stonehenge and I couldn't put them down until I was finished. Just wondering is there going to be another book to finish Uhtred's thrilling tale? If so when? Please write faster!! haha just kidding
John Grosso

Hello Bernard. I note your own favourites are the three Arthur books (Winter King, Enemy of God and Excalibur ). I concur. I have just read the fourth Alfred book, Sword Song and long for more. Do you have a fifth on the drawing board? Respectfully yours, Tommo of Wanaka, New Zealand

Dear Mr. Cornwell, So far I read all of your books about Uthred the Warrior. I just wanted to ask when the next part will appear in stores in Germany? And a big thanks to you, I have never read books like yours, you're a genius. :) Best regards, Robert Kluch

hi mr cornwell,i really enjoy your books especially the saxon stories,can you please tell me when the next one will be here(after sword song),as the wait is killing me!thanks for your time. Richie Dorrean

enjoyed all 4 books of the Saxon Tales - please let me know if you have started the 5th and if at all possible, you might know about when it will be released? James Quick

dear Mr. Cornwell my son turned me on to your books a couple of years ago and I enjoy them very much but I have been geeking for more saxon tales are you planning on a fifth book for Uhtred thank you best wishes Joe

I was wondering when we could expect a sequel to "Sword Song"? And thank you for many enjoyable hours 'wasted' according to my wife. Aubrey

Dear Sir, I am a great fan of your books and was wondering when we can expect the next installment of the saxon stories? I have just finished sword song and am now on tender hooks. Many thanks. Steve Higham

I am a great fan of your saxon stories. I was wondering if you are planning to write any more. Please???
Stuart W.

When does the next Saxon Stories book come out & is there a name for it yet?
Stan Cieslak

I love your stories about Uhtred.And my question is:When comes your fifth book? Sorry for my bad English,i am a German! greets, Bernd Hinrichs

Dear Bernard, I have recently become a huge fan of the Saxon series. My partner has always been a huge fan and recently turned me from the slushy novels I usually read and I must admit I do love your tales. We have purchased all the books with the latest being, of course, Sword Song. I am anxious to discover what becomes of Uhtred and Gisela and the rest of the characters. can you please let me know when the sequels will be published. Many thanks for hours of good reading
Kelly Broome

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

I am currently working on the fifth book of the Saxon stories and hope to have it ready for publication in the UK in October (most likely January 2010 in the US). No title yet!

Q

hi again thanks for replying to my last question. I have read every one of your books excluding Sharpe and enjoyed all . I was just wondering why in the Saxon series you kill Uhtred's son to save Alfred's using magic and again when Ceinwyn chooses Derfel over Lancelot in the Arthur books?

Mark Spooner

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

I guess it's coincidence . . . . nothing too significant there as far as I can tell!

Q

Hello Bernard. I'm a huge fan of your work, I've already read all of yours books and I love it. I've just finished Excalibur, and I would like to know if the songs (like The Beli Marw's song) that you quote are real, they really exist? Do you know the lyrics? Thanks for your time, a Brazilian fan, Raul Abramo Arino

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

No, they are not real, I made them up.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'm now reading Sharpe's Eagle and I'm very confused. I read all 7 previous books and in Sharpe's Eagle there are two times when the stories don't match - at the first when Sharpe meets Lawford again it is said he was a sergeant when he was at the Tipoo's prison which contradicts the plot of Tiger. I'm now at the end of chapter 14 and there it is said that Sharpe has not met Hill - and that contradicts the Seminary meeting at Havoc. I enjoy your books very much but find these mismatches confusing. I have all the Sharpe books in waiting - were they not meant to be read in chronological order?
S. Alony

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

Reading them in chronological order is fine, just remember that the books were not written that way. As for the inevitable inconsistencies which come from the ridiculous decision to start a second series before the first and then try to dovetail them - maybe one day, far in the future, we might re-issue all the books, smoothed out, polished, etc etc, but it isn't high on the priority list.

Q

I have greatly enjoyed all of your books, except the last one, which I have not yet had a chance to read. I have a question about "Vagabond". Which I am reading for the third or fourth time. In the first part of the book, during the Battle of Neville's Cross, you mention Highland Scots wearing what seems to be belted plaids. Is there any proof of this, or are you too a believer in the antiquity of the belted plaid. I have had many long discussions about this with friends in the Society for Creative Anachronism. I would be ecstatic if you have a reference. Thank you, Randy Colby

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

I'm not sure I do . . . though I remember doing some research into this. It's definitely NOT the kilt which was invented much later (and by an Englishman, but don't tell anyone that). I can't remember if I call it a plaid? I am fairly sure that the Scots wore the plaid - the word first occurs in writing in 1512, but it obviously has a much longer provenance than that (the first reference assumes the reader knows what the word means), and it was a common garment in Scotland and the north of England - the shepherd's version was called a Maud or a Maldy.

Q

Half way through "Azincourt". My second Bernard Cornwell........Could become an addict. Just re-living the hunger pangs(3 hours) as a boy waiting for communion at 10 O'Clock mass. I suppose Nick was a bigger sinner than me? Thought that they had to starve from the night before back then? Or was that an invention of a later Pope ?....Yours etc hungry Catholic pedant

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

I know they kept a fast (and a watch) before the Easter communion . . . and I'll be honest, I have no idea when the idea of the fast came into Catholicism (I ought to know, but I don't) . . and I'm fairly sure, anyway, that it was a law more kept in the breach than the observance. And I'm pretty sure Nick was a bigger sinner than you - I hope so, anyway!